• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.974-981
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• 2020

Sequence type 410 (ST410) of Escherichia coli is an extraintestinal pathogen associated with multi drug resistance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the horizontal propagation pathway of a high-risk clone of E. coli ST410 that produces Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). blaKPC-encoding E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates were evaluated, and complete sequencing and comparative analysis of blaKPC-encoding plasmids from E. coli and K. pneumoniae, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, polymerase chain reaction, multilocus sequence typing, and conjugal transfer of plasmids were performed. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for plasmids mediating KPC-2 production in E. coli and K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Strains E. coli CPEc171209 and K. pneumoniae CPKp171210 were identified as ST410 and ST307, respectively. CPEc171209 harbored five plasmids belonging to serotype O8:H21, which is in the antimicrobial-resistant clade C4/H24. The CPKp171210 isolate harbored three plasmids. Both strains harbored various additional antimicrobial resistance genes. The IncX3 plasmid pECBHS_9_5 harbored blaKPC-2 within a truncated Tn4401a transposon, which also contains blaSHV-182 with duplicated conjugative elements. This plasmid displayed 100% identity with the IncX3 plasmid pKPBHS_10_3 from the K. pneumoniae CPKp171210 ST307 strain. The genes responsible for the conjugal transfer of the IncX3 plasmid included tra/trb clusters and pil genes coding the type IV pilus. ST410 can be transmitted between patients, posing an elevated risk in clinical settings. The emergence of a KPC-producing E. coli strain (ST410) is concerning because the blaKPC-2-bearing plasmids may carry treatment resistance across species barriers. Transgenic translocation occurs among carbapenem-resistant bacteria, which may spread rapidly via horizontal migration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1733-1737
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• 2007

A total of 2,280 nonduplicate clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, obtained nationwide from Korean non-tertiary care hospitals from 2002 to 2005, were identified and their susceptibilities to aminoglycosides, antipseudomonal penicillins, carbapenems, cephalosporins, monobactams, and quinolones were studied, together with their production of ${\beta}$-lactamases. Using disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration tests, it was found that 2.9% of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa. An EDTA-disk synergy test, PCR amplification with specifically designed primers, and direct sequencing of the PCR products showed that the $bla_{OXA-10}$, $bla_{VIM-2}$, $bla_{OXA-2}$, $bla_{OXA-17}$, $bla_{PER-1}$, $bla_{SHV-12}$, and $bla_{IMP-1}$ genes were carried by 34.3%, 26.9%, 3.0%,3.0%, 1.5%, 1.5%, and 1.5% of 67 MDR P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively. The prevalence of MDR P. aeruginosa was three-fold higher, compared with that from the United States. More than two types of ${\beta}$-lactamase genes were carried by 10.4% of isolates. The most prevalent ${\beta}$-lactamase genes were $bla_{VIM-2}$ and $bla_{OXA-10}$. This study is the first description of MDR P. aeruginosa trom non-tertiary care hospitals in Korea and the coexistence of the $bla_{VIM-2}$, $bla_{IMP-1}$, or $bla_{PER-1} in these clinical isolates.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

The production of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases ($ESBL_S$) is the main mechanism of bacterial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams, whose prevalence varies depending on the different geographical areas. In the last years it has increased notably to the point of being considered a health problem of great importance. The characterization of the ESBLs producing Klebsiella penumoniae strains present in clinical isolates is time-consuming. I describe here the development of a new system, which consists of a multiplex PCR. I found 51 K. pneumoniae strains to be presumptive strains ESBLs producers by clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The double disc synergy test showed 47 positive K. pneumoniae, which were K. pneumoniae isolates. All ESBLs producing K. pneumoniae strains were resistant to antibiotic amikacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. By multiplex PCR analysis, $bla_{TEM}$ gene in 17 strains 44 $bla_{SHV}$ genes and $bla_{CTX}$ genes in 33 strains were identified. In this study, the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was a good method to detect and differentiate ESBLs producing K. penumoniae strains in clinical isolates.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.293-304
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• 2007

The emergence of extended spectrum $\beta$-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria is worldwide concern. Until recently, the most frequently identified strains in the Republic of Korea were E. coli and Klebsiella spp. The incidence of resistance to extended spectrum $\beta$-lactam antibiotics is increasing in Wonju city, Korea. Total 57 strains of ESBL producing E. coli and Klebsiella species were isolated from Wonju Christian Hospital during a 9 month-period from April to December, 2003. To determine the prevalence and genotypes of the ESBL producing clinical isolates, antibiotic susceptibility and ESBL activity test by VITEK system and double disk synergy (DDS) test, and PCR based genotyping were performed. Fourteen (82%) isolates of 17 ESBL producing E. coli were found to have $bla_{TEM}$ gene and 5 (29%) isolates were found to have $bla_{CTX-M}$ gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty (75%) isolates of 40 ESBL producing Klebsiella species with $bla_{TEM}$ gene, 38 (95%) isolates with $bla_{SHV}$ gene, and 7 (20%) isolates with $bla_{CTX-M}$ type gene were also identified. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR and similarity index by dendrogram for genetical similarity to band pattern of each clinical isolates were examined. ESBL producing E. coli were grouped into 6 clusters up to 84% of similarity index and Klebsiella species were grouped into 12 clusters up to 76% of similarity index. In conclusion, ESBL producing clinical isolates were characterized with the results from antimicrobial resistance pattern and genetical similarity using ERiC PCR.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial resistance, presence of ${\beta}$-lactamase genes and integrons in 83 ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolated from Nakdong river and Geumho river in Daegu. Among the ${\beta}$-lactam antimicrobials, all isolates were resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin, cefamandole and cefotaxime, followed by piperacillin (98.8%), ampicillin/sulbactam (86.7%), aztreonam (60.2%) and cefepime (59.0%), whereas resistance to piperacillin/tazobacram, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid and cefoxitin was less than 30%. Many of the ESBL-producing Escherichia coli were also resistant to non-${\beta}$-lactams antimicrobials such as nalidixic acid (83.1%), sulfonamides (72.3%), ciprofloxacin (62.7%) and gentamicin (38.6%). All isolates showed resistance to seven or more antimicrobial agents. The most frequently detected gene was $bla_{TEM+CTX-M}$ (49.4%), followed by $bla_{CTX-M}$ (27.7%), $bla_{TEM}$ (6.0%) and $bla_{OXA}$ (1.2%). But $bla_{SHV}$ was not found. Class 1 integrons were found in 61.4% (51 isolates) of isolates, however, class 2 and 3 integrons were not detected. The results showed water from Nakdong river and Geumho river is contaminated with ESBL-producing E. coli isolates. These results suggest the need for further investigation of antibiotic resistant bacteria to prevent public health impacts in the water environment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2015

A 7-year-old castrated male Korean Shorthair cat was referred with lethargy and anorexia. Laboratory examination revealed moderate degenerative changes of peripheral neutrophils on blood smear examination and decreased levels of free and total thyroxine ($T_4$) as well as bacterial growth on blood culture. Molecular analyses of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and heat shock protein 60 gene confirmed the bacterium as Enterobacter cloacae. A minimal inhibitory concentration test showed multidrug resistance of the bacterium against 16 antibiotics. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent sequencing specifically for $bla_{TEM}$, $bla_{SHV}$, $bla_{CTX-M}$, and plasmid-mediated ampC genes revealed positive results to $bla_{TEM-1}$, $bla_{CTX-M-15}$, and plasmid-mediated $bla_{ACT-1}$ genes, indicating that the isolated bacterium contains plasmids containing genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and plasmid-mediated ampC beta-lactamase. After 1 month of treatment with antibiotics and levothyroxine, the cat's condition improved; both the thyroid function test and the blood culture showed no abnormalities. This is the first report of community-acquired multidrug-resistant E. cloacae-induced euthyroid sick syndrome in a cat. By the prompt diagnostic procedures and properly selected antibiotic therapy, the cat was recovered from the multidrug-resistant bacterium-induced septicaemia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2018

The spread of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the community is one of the main challenges for antibiotic treatment of community-onset infections. We evaluated the microbiological and molecular characteristics of stool samples from adults with comprehensive health examinations. Of 109 fecal samples, bacterial growth was observed in 86 samples and 61 gram-negative bacterial isolates were identified, of which 45 were Escherichia coli isolates (73.8%). Two isolates of Raoultella showed imipenem resistance, and both E. coli and Citrobacter freundii showed intermediate resistance to imipenem. Colistin resistance was identified in isolates of Klebsiella variicola and Salmonella subterranean, but no isolates carried mcr-1. As for E. coli genotypes, 35 sequence types were identified. $bla_{TEM-1}$, $bla_{TEM-30}$, and $bla_{CTX-M}$ were identified in 15, 1, and 4 E. coli isolates, respectively. In addition, all four Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates carried $bla_{SHV}$. Many genotypes that have been identified in isolates causing human infections were found in isolates in this study. There is a need to control the rise and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens by fecal carriage.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1319-1336
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• 2006

The successive round of talks oil Korea-USA Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has continued, and it also has the Intellectual property(IPR) unit. Until now, tile one of most disputing concerns in IPR unit through talks is the limitation of compulsory license of claimed invention. The US is urging to establish a safeguard for IPR, as similar measure of the US, to protecting the profit of the US enterprises through these on-going talks, it is more likely expected to take the offensive about infringement of the patent seriously. Based on the current circumstances, the provision strategy study is needed to obtain Korea inventors the first inventor defense under the US patent law system as well as understand the current Korea's patent law and its revision against that in the US. In patent Law, both nations with first to file system and first to invent system permit a prior user of an invention to continue to use the invention notwithstanding its subsequent patenting by another under being subject to certain qualifications and limitations, even though a patent by a later inventor is granted. Normally, the first inventor defense has been used to compensate the drawbacks of the first to file system. The US patent Law, however, adopting the first to invent system admits the first inventor defense. Therefore, pursuing counteract provision under consideration with Korean patent Law system and research environment along with investigating the reason why the US adopted its patent law system, the scope of right, and the new reform of Act. 2005 of the institute, which promotes the first Korean inventor to possess the defense right of the US, provides certain preparations for Korean companies against the expected offensive from the US ones under the US patent Law system.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.585-591
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• 2006

We measured the litterfall quantity and investigated the nutrient dynamics in decomposing litter for three years at the LTER sites installed in a deciduous broadleaf natural forest in Mt. Gyebangsan, South Korea. Litterfall production was significantly different among the sampling dates, whereas it was not significantly different among the years. The total annual mean litterfall production for three years was 6,593 kg $ha^{-1}$ $yr^{-1}$ and leaf litter accounted for 82.6% of the litterfall. The leaf litter quantity was highest in Quercus mongolia, followed by leaf of other species, Betula schmidtii, Kaplopanax pictus, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, etc., which are dominant tree species in the site. The mass loss from the decomposition of leaf litter was fastest in Cortinus controversa (100%), followed by A. preudo-sieboldianum, K. pictus, and B. schmidtii. 100% of litter for C. controversa, 96.1% for A. pseudo-sieboldianum, 92.8% for K. pictus decomposed, while 66.2% of litter for Q. mongolia decayed for 1,003 days. The lower rate of the mass loss in the litter of Q. mongolia may be attributed to the difference in substrate quality, such as lower nutrient concentrations compared with those of other tree species. The concentrations of N, P, and Ca for five litter types increased over time, while the concentrations of K and Mg decreased over time. Compared with the nutrients in the litter of Q. mongolia, the nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in the litter of other species, C. controversa, A. pseudo-sieboldianum, and K. pictus, were released more rapidly. The results showed that the mass loss and the nutrient dynamics in the litter are variable depending on the tree species even in the same site conditions.