• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.229-239
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• 2012

Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii), a Gram-negative bacillus, is a rare cause of meningitis and central nervous system infections. In England, the first case infected by this organism occurred in 1958. By July 2008, approximately 120 documented cases of Cronobacter spp. infection and at least 27 deaths have been identified from all around the world in the published literature and in reports submitted by public health sectors. In 2007, it was proposed by European organizations that the original taxonomy of E. sakazakii would be revised, to consist of five new species moved to a new genus, and identified as "Cronobacter". E. sakazakii has thus now been reclassified as 6 separate species in the new genus, Cronobacter, gen. nov., within the Enterobacteriaceae family. The new species are presently Cronobacter sakazakii, C. turicensis, C. malonaticus, C. muytjensii, and C. dublinensis; the sixth species is identified simply as genomospecies I, as currently including only two representative strains. The objectives of this review are to provide insight on (1) the classification and taxonomy of Cronobacter spp., (2) its clinical etiology and pathogenicity, (3) prequency of Cronobacter spp. in different categories of ready-to-eat food other than infant formula, (4) methods for detecting, isolating and typing Cronobacter spp., and (5) recent research trends for detecting Cronobacter spp.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.2052-2059
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• 2017

The emergence and dissemination of Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1) are strongly associated with the occurrence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) enterobacteria in humans and animals. Diverse SGI1s have been reported among Salmonella enterica and Proteus mirabilis in several countries. We aimed to characterize SGI1 in P. mirabilis isolates from humans and chickens in Chungcheong Province, Korea. A total of 44 P. mirabilis isolates were recovered from humans (n = 20) and chickens (n = 24). Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion assay. To detect and characterize SGI1s, PCR amplification and PCR mapping experiments were performed. Repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (REP-PCR) was performed to assess the clonality of the isolates. The four P. mirabilis strains (16.7%) from chicken harbored a SGI1, whereas none of the isolates from clinical specimens contained SGI1. The SGI1s detected in our study were all confirmed as SGI1-PmABB harboring aminoglycoside-resistant genes (aacCA5 and aadA7). In P. mirabilis isolates, the presence of SGI1-PmABB was significantly correlated with high resistance rates of the isolates to antimicrobial agents, such as gentamicin, streptomycin, and spectinomycin. Moreover, the four SGI1-bearing isolates showed the same REP-PCR patterns and that suggested both horizontal and clonal spread of the isolates. This study is the first attempt to determine SGI1s in P. mirabilis isolates in Korea. We confirmed that P. mirabilis isolates carrying SGI1-PmABB were distributed at poultry farms in Korea. The present study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of SGI1s to prevent spreading of the MDR genomic islands among P. mirabilis isolates from humans and animals.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.200-204
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• 2018

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in children. Patients with AD experience a high rate of colonization of the skin surface by Staphylococcus aureus. Because of a skin barrier defect, there is a potential risk of staphylococcal invasive infection in patients with AD. Here, we present 2 cases of breast abscess caused by S. aureus in 2 adolescent girls with severe AD. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus was identified from the breast abscess material. They were treated with appropriate antibiotics, however surgical drainage of the abscess was needed in case 1. Identical strains were found from the breast abscess material as well as the lesional and the nonlesional skin of the patients through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis. We characterized the differential abundance of Firmicutes phylum in patients' skin in microbiota analysis. In particular, S. aureus, a member of Firmicutes, differed significantly between the lesional and the normal-appearing skin. Our cases demonstrate the potential severity of bacterial deep tissue infection in AD and the dysbiosis of skin microbiota may be involved in inflammation in AD.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-76
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• 2007

Marek's disease (MD) is caused by a ubiquitous, lymphotropic alphaherpesvirus, MD virus (MDV). MD has been a major concern in the poultry industry due to the emergence of increasingly virulent strains over the last few decades that were isolated in the face of comprehensive vaccination. MD is characterized by a variety of clinical signs, amongst them neurological symptoms, chronic wasting, and most notably the development of multiple lymphomas that manifest as solid tumors in the viscera and musculature. Much work has been devoted to study MD-induced oncogenesis and genes involved in this process. Among the many genes encoded by MDV, a number have recently been shown to affect the development of tumors in chickens, one protein directly causing transformation of cells (Meq) and another being involved in maintaining transformed cells (vTR). Other MDV gene products modulate and are involved in early lytic in vivo replication, thereby increasing the chance of transformation occurring. In this review, specific genes encoded by MDV that are involved in the initiation and/or maintenance of transformation were briefly summarized, and limits of current vaccination and new control strategies against MD, particularly how modem molecular biological methods may be used to improve strategies to combat the disease in the future, were discussed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.307-311
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to compare the biochemical profiles with biogroups for the identification of Cronobacter spp. (formally known as Enterobacter sakazakii) isolates using biochemical identification kits. A total of 38 Cronobacter spp. contained 5 clinical, 31 food, and 2 environmental isolates were used. All isolates were identified as Cronobacter spp. with the Vitek II system and ID 32E kit. The API 20E kit identified all isolates as Cronobacter spp. but the percentage identification was 51.1% for 16 of 38 isolates. These strains were contained to Biogroup 2, 9, 10, and 11. The utilization of inositol is a factor determining the percentage identification of Cronobacter spp. with the API 20E kit.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.258-265
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• 2012

Bacterial strains isolated from diseased red pepper fruits showed inhibitory effect on mycelial growth and spore germination of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The bacterium was identified as Paenibacillus sp. based on its physiological, biochemical characteristics and MicroLog analysis and named Paenibacillus sp. IUB225-08. The bacterium showed the highest level of antifungal activity C. gloeosporioides when cultured at $25^{\circ}C$ for 60 hrs in LB broth with initial pH of 7.0. The butanol fraction from culture extract of Paenibacillus sp. IUB225-08 effectively inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of C. gloeosporioides than any other agricultural chemicals tested. Pepper fruits and seeds treated with spores of C. gloeosporioides showed symptoms, while those treated with the culture extract and C. gloeosporioides together did not show any symptoms. Therefore, the culture extract of Paenibacillus sp. IUB225-08 have a potential for biocontrol agent of red pepper anthracnose.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.210-214
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• 2009

Group A streptococcus (GAS) rarely causes meningoencephalitis in children without risk factors. A previously healthy 8 year-old child presented with lethargy, high fever, and vomiting. The clinical course was unusual including intractable seizures, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and left hemiparesis in spite of the appropriate and timely administration of antibiotics and corticosteroids. The microbiologic studies revealed that the pathogen was susceptible to penicillin and GAS M18 strains. This case showed the importance of the GAS vaccine in addition to appropriate antibiotics.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.327-337
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• 1999

The transposon TnphoA was used to generate avirulent mutants from a type A Pasteurella multocida. A suicide vector plasmid pRT733 carrying TnphoA, having the kanamycin resistant gene and harbored in Escherichia coli K-12 strain SM10(${\lambda}pir$), was mated with streptomycin resistant P. multocida P-1059 strain as recipient. This resulted in the generation of two TnphoA insertion mutants (transconjugants, tc95-a and tc95-b) which were resistant both to kanamycin ($Km^{R}$) and streptomycin ($Sm^{R}$), secreted alkaline phosphatase, and were avirulent to turkeys. Southern blot hybridization using two probes derived from internal fragments of TnphoA, confirmed the insertion of TnphoA into 12.9kb or 13.7kb DNA fragment from the EcoRV digested genomic fragments of transconjugants. The two transconjugants, tc95-a and tc95-b, were distinguishable from their parent strains by differences in ribotypes, and outer membrane protein profiles. TnphoA insertion in both transconjugants also resulted in constitutive expression of a 33Kd iron regulated outer membrane protein (IROMP). The gene encoding $Sm^{R}$ was also located within the same 12.9kb EcoRV genomic fragment from both transconjugants. Furthermore, our finding that the recipient P. multocida P-1059 $Sm^{R}$ strain and both transconjugants were avirulent to turkeys suggest that the either 12.9kb or 13.7kb genomic DNA contains the virulence gene and speculate that the presence of $Sm^{R}$ gene or TnphoA insertion may be responsible for regulating and inactivating the gene(s) encoding virulence in P. multocida.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.453-462
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• 1987

A total of 3,879 cases of feces and rectal swab from patient was collected in H. hospital from January 1974 to December 1986 in Seoul. Among the materials, the number of cases of Shigella spp. isolated were 197 strains of 139 patients. Infectous pattern and antibiotic sensitivity of Shigella spp. were as follows; The range of percentage of an identified Shigella spp. among total feces and rectal swabs was $1.5{\sim}12.5%$ yearly. The isolation ratios of Shigella spp. per each patient 1.35 for male and 1.19 for female. The isolation ratio of male to female was 1.28:1 in whole group. The isolated Shigella species was 81.0% in S. flexneri, 1.1% in S. boydii and 17% in S. sonnei. The highest number of Shigella spp. was found in August and September according to monthly isolation, on the other hand the lowest number of Shigella spp. was obserbed in March. The seasonal isolation rate of Shigella spp. was 31.7% in Fall, 27.3% in Summer, 21.6% in Winter and 19.3% in Spring. The age specific frequency of Shigellosis was 46.8% in $0{\sim}9$ year group, 8.6% in $10{\sim}19$, 7.2% in $40{\sim}49$ and 6.5% in $50{\sim}59$. The antibiotics showing over 80% susceptibility against Shigella spp. were gentamicin, kanamycin, amikacin, tobramycin, cefoperazone, cefoxitin, cefamandole nafate, cefotaxine and sisomycin.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

Mastic is a bleed resin formed in pistacia lentiscus tree extract form the anacatdiaceae family. Mastic is used as a food ingredient in the Mediteraanean resin, and has been used by local inhabitants as a traditional medicine for relief of upper abdominal discomfort, dyspepsiaand peptic ulcer. Clinically, mastic has been effective in the treatment of benign gastric and duodenal, ulcers, giving symptomatic relief and endoscopically proven healing. In this study, to enhance activiteies of poorly water soluble Mastic with oils, surfactants and cosurfactants and then the mixure was microemulsified in aqueous media under condition of gentle agitation and digestive motility that would be encountered in the gastrointestinal tract. Formulation development and screening were based on phase diagrams and characteristics of resultant microemulsion. For optimum mastic formulation, microemulsions with various ratio (w/w%) of mastics, oils, surfactants and cosurfactants were prepared and their solubility was evaluated by monitoring particles size in their buffer through visual asessment and electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotomerter (ELS). In vitro activity of self microemulsified mastic (SME mastic) was determined by minimum ingibition concentration (MIC) test against a panel of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) clinical strains. Additionally, in vivo activity of SME masitc was investigated us mouse infected by CH275 of H. pylori. The mean diameter of SME mastic was less then 100 nm in water and SME mastic was showed similar antiboisis effect compared to tometronidazole, clarithromycin and omeproazole. Consequently, SME mastic would be effective system to exterminate H. pylori. If mastic were dose with combined treatment, mastic might augur well for effect of H. pylori eradication as good remedy.