• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.731-737
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• 2013

Seventy-four Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates belonging to the serotype O91:H21 were isolated from 1,643 asymptomatic human carriers in a STEC outbreak at Gwangju in Korea. Although the isolates did not cause any symptoms, all of them produced Shiga toxins 1 (Stx1) and 2 (Stx2). In order to determine why these strains cause no symptoms, we explored the differences in virulence potential between the asymptomatic STEC O91:H21 isolates and symptomatic STEC O91:H21 strains (ATCC 51435 and ATCC 51434). The asymptomatic STEC O91:H21 isolates showed strongly reduced cytopathic effects compared with the symptomatic strains when intact bacterial cells were used as an inoculant. Moreover, we found a reduced adherence phenotype when testing asymptomatic strains on HeLa cells. Real-time quantitative PCR results suggest that transcriptional repression of the genes encoding type-1 fimbriae occurs in the asymptomatic isolates but not in the symptomatic strains.

• 농약과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.181-190
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• 2014

곤충병원세균인 Bacillus thuringiensis (비티)는 포자 형성과 더불어 살충성 Cry 독소단백질을 생산한다. Cry 독소단백질은 대상 곤충의 중장에 위치한 수용체와 특이적으로 결합하며 살충작용을 발휘하기에 비티의 적용해 충범위가 비교적 좁다. 본 연구는 비티의 적용해충범위와 살충력을 증가시키기 위한 일환으로 실시되었다. 서로 다른 네 가지 비티 균주에서 분리된 Cry 독소단백질은 각각 좁은 적용해충범위를 나타냈다. 이들 Cry 독소단백질을 혼합한 결과 적용범위가 현격하게 증가했다. 벡큘로바이러스가 비티의 적용범위를 증가시키는 지 알아보기 위해 Cry1Ac 또는 Cry1Ca 독소단백질을 각각 발현시키는 재조합바이러스로 검정한 결과 벡큘로바이러스는 Cry 독소단백질의 적용범위를 증가시키는 데 유효하지 않았다. Xenorhabdus nematophila (Xn) 세균 배양액은 조사된 모든 곤충의 세포성 면역을 억제하고 Cry 독소단백질의 살충력을 증가시켰다. 이 Xn 세균배양액을 혼합 Cry 독소단백질에 추가한 결과 적용해충범위와 살충력을 모두 증가시켰다.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.323-325
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• 2002

Bacillus Anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. The major virulence factors are a poly-D glutamic acid capsule and three-protein component exotoxin, which is collectively known as anthrax toxin, protective antigen (PA, 83 kDa), lethal factor (LF, 90 kDa), and edema factor (EF, 89 kDa). These three proteins individually have no known toxic activities, but in combination with PA form two toxins (lethal toxin and edema toxin), causing different pathogenic responses in animals and cultured cells. However, it remains to be elucidated for pathogenic mechanism of anthrax toxin. In this study, we constructed toxin component in bacterial overexpression system and purified the native toxin from Bacillus anthracis delta sterne F32 using FPLC system. Recombinant toxin showed high homogeneity and rapid purification processes. Also, this recombinant toxin was comparable to B. anthracis native toxin in terms of cytotoxic effects on cultured cell lines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.20-23
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• 2000

Mono-ADP-ribosylation, catalyzed by ADP-ribosyltransferases, is a post-translational modification of proteins in which the ADP-ribose moiety of NAD is transferred to an acceptor protein. Previously, we have identified and cloned a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked ADP-ribosyltransferase (Yac-1) from mouse lymphoma cells. Yac-1 enzyme contains three regions (region I,II,III) similar to those found in several bacterial toxins and vertebrate ADP-ribosyltransferases. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to verify the role of Glu 233 in region III. Mutants E233Q, E233D and E233A were inactive for ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Thus Glu 233 in Yac-1 is essential for enzyme activity, suggesting that Glu 233 in Glu-rich motif near the carboxy terminus plays a catalytic role in ADP-ribosyltransferase activity.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.198-204
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• 1999

Asymbiotic bacterium with highly effective toxins was isolated from entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema glaseri which has been widely used against various soil-inhabiting pests. The symbiont of S. glaseri was identified as Xenorhabdus nematophilus sp. by using several biochemical and physiological tests. When this strain was released into the hemolymph of insect larva, it produced highly toxic substances and killed the larva within 2 days. Two colony forms that differed n some biochemical characteristics were observed when cultures in vitro. Phase l colonies were mucid and difficult to be dispersed in liquid. Phase II was not mucoid and was easily dispersed in liquid. It did not adsorb neutral red or bromothymol blue. Rod-shaped cell size was highly variable between two phases, ranging 2-10 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. It was also found that only infective-stage nematodes can carry only primary-phase Xenorhabdus in their intestine.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.594-603
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• 2009

The genus Bacillus includes a variety of diverse bacterial species, which are widespread throughout the environment due to their ubiquitous nature. A well-known member of the genus, Bacillus cereus, is a food poisoning bacterium causing both emetic and diarrhoeal disease. Other Bacillus species, particularly B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, and B. thuringiensis, have also recently been recognized as causative agents of food poisoning. However, reviews and research pertaining to bacilli have focused on B. cereus. Here, we review the literature regarding the potentially toxigenic Bacillus species and the toxins produced that are associated with food poisoning.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.1011-1027
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• 2024

Animal-derived foods, such as meat and dairy products, are prone to spoilage by psychrotrophic bacteria due to their high-water activity and nutritional value. These bacteria can grow at refrigerated temperatures, posing significant concerns for food safety and quality. Psychrotrophic bacteria, including Pseudomonas, Listeria, and Yersinia, not only spoil food but can also produce heat-resistant enzymes and toxins, posing health risks. This review examines the characteristics and species composition of psychrotrophic bacteria in animal-derived foods, their impact on food spoilage and safety, and contamination patterns in various products. It explores several nonthermal techniques to combat bacterial contamination as alternatives to conventional thermal methods, which can affect food quality. This review highlights the importance of developing nonthermal technologies to control psychrotrophic bacteria that threaten the cold storage of animal-derived foods. By adopting these technologies, the food industry can better ensure the safety and quality of animal-derived foods for consumers.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.51-57
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• 2015

The etiology of periodontal disease is multifactorial. Exogenous stimuli such as bacterial pathogens can interact with toll-like receptors to activate intracellular calcium signaling in gingival epithelium and other tissues. The triggering of calcium signaling induces the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 as part of the inflammatory response; however, the exact mechanism of calcium signaling induced by bacterial toxins when gingival epithelial cells are exposed to pathogens is unclear. Here, we investigate calcium signaling induced by bacteria and expression of inflammatory cytokines in human gingival epithelial cells. We found that peptidoglycan, a constituent of grampositive bacteria and an agonist of toll-like receptor 2, increases intracellular calcium in a concentration-dependent manner. Peptidoglycan-induced calcium signaling was abolished by treatment with blockers of phospholipase C (U73122), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, indicating the release of calcium from intracellular calcium stores. Peptidoglycan-mediated interleukin-8 expression was blocked by U73122 and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (acetoxymethyl ester). Moreover, interleukin-8 expression was induced by thapsigargin, a selective inhibitor of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, when thapsigargin was treated alone or co-treated with peptidoglycan. These results suggest that the gram-positive bacterial toxin peptidoglycan induces calcium signaling via the phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate pathway, and that increased interleukin-8 expression is mediated by intracellular calcium levels in human gingival epithelial cells.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.721-727
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• 2007

Scorpion (SCP) has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, clearing away toxins, resolving hard masses and removing obstruction in the collaterals to relieve pain. Recent studies showed that scorpion toxins that affect the activating mechanism of sodium channels and indian black scorpion venom induced anti-proliferative and apoptogenic activity against human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of SCP on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SCP on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of SCP MeOH extract dissolved in media for 1 h prior to the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 1 ${\mu}$g/ml), cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. As results, SCP inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), iNOS and p-$I_KB_{\alpha}$ protein, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml) and interleukin-6 (1.0mg/ml) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that SCP can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.79-90
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• 2019

Lichens are generally known as self-sufficient, symbiotic life-forms between fungi and algae/cyanobacteria, and they also provide shelter for a wide range of beneficial bacteria. Currently, bacterial-derived biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is grabbing the attention of many researchers as a promising alternative to non-degradable plastics. This study was conducted to develop a new method of PHA production using unexplored lichen-associated bacteria, which can simultaneously degrade two ubiquitous industrial toxins, anthracene and naphthalene. Here, 49 lichen-associated bacteria were isolated and tested for PHA synthesis. During the GC-MS analysis, a potential strain of EL19 was found to be a 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3-HHx) accumulator and identified as Pseudomonas sp. based on the 16S rRNA sequencing. GC analysis revealed that EL19 was capable of accumulating 30.62% and 19.63% of 3-HHx from naphthalene and anthracene, respectively, resulting in significant degradation of 98% and 96% of naphthalene and anthracene, respectively, within seven days. Moreover, the highly expressed phaC gene verified the genetic basis of $PHA_{mcl}$ production under nitrogen starvation conditions. Thus, this study strongly supports the hypothesis that lichen-associated bacteria can detoxify naphthalene and anthracene, store energy for extreme conditions, and probably help the associated lichen to live in extreme conditions. So far, this is the first investigation of lichen-associated bacteria that might utilize harmful toxins as feasible supplements and convert anthracene and naphthalene into eco-friendly 3-HHx. Implementation of the developed method would reduce the production cost of $PHA_{mcl}$ while removing harmful waste products from the environment.